Clockwork-operated mechanical fuse for shells and the like projectiles



`Aug. 23 192.7.

1,640,165 A. VARAUD CLOCKWORK OPERATED MECHANICAL AFUSE FOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE PROJECTILES Filed May l5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a .w 7//// 7 r lrL 4 f Y @we a M5 7/////// 23 192 1,640165 Aug 7 A. VARAUD CLOCKWORK OPERATED MECHANICAL FUSE FOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE PROJECTILES Filed May l5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I7' i 72 J7" .e4 2Q; e5 19 23 1927. 1,640,165 Aug A. VARAUD CLOCKWORK OPERATED MECHANICAL FUSE FOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE PROJECTILES Filed May l5. 1924 4 sheetshsheet 3 23 19 1,640,165 Aug 27 A. VARAUD cLocKwoRK OPERATED MECHANICAL FUSE FOR sHELLs AND THE LIKE PROJECTILES Filed May l5. 1924 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Aug. 2s,l i927.

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ANDR VARAUD, OF LA CAPITE SUR VESENAZ, NEAR GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, AS- SIGNGR TO TAVANNIES VIATCI- S. A., OF TAVANNES, CANTON F BERNE, SWIT- ZERLAND, A CORPORATION OF SVIflZERLAND.

cLocKwoRK-OPERATED MECHANICAL FUSE ron sHELLs .kannl THE LIKE PROJECTILES.

Application filed May 13, 1924, Serial ,Na-7R35@ and in Switzerland August 2, 1923.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to clockwork operated fuses for proj ect'iles of the type in which the release of a striker deviceis controlled by a. rotary member whose angularposition can be set or adjusted before firing and whichis driven by the clockwork in a direction opposite to its direction of setting movement while the projectile is in flight.

In the fuses of this type the drivingmember of the clockwork movement.` which may either be the barrel shaft or the going barrel, can describe but a single revolutionVV around itself for determ'ning the maximum duration of the op-eration of the clockwork movement. This fact necessitates the use of a gear train at a very great multiplication for transmitting the driving power of said member to the last movable part of the gear train or the escapement wheel which as is known must rotate at the speed which will suffice for entertaining the oscillations of the regulator of the clockwork movement.

In practice it has been established that as a consequence of this very great multiplication the drivng power is reduced to such an extent that on its arrival at the escapement wheel. it is no longer capable of imparting to the regulating member sufliciently strong impulses for keeping up its oscillations, and thatit is even too weak to overcome inertia of the escapement wheel and of the regulating' member aswell as the resistances generated by the centrifugal force in the case of projectiles theinitial angular Vspeedof which is superior to 16,000 R. P. M.

Since it is impossible to' increase the strength of the driving spring beyond the limit of the resistance of the teeth ofthey train gearing, it is proposed in accordance with this invention to utilize a barrel shaft,

which is a drive shaft, arranged in the axis ofthe fuse in such a manner as to be capable of making several revolutions on vits axis, on the one hand in onegiven direction prior `to the ring for effecting simultaneously the vwinding of the power spring and the regulating of the time interval determining the ignition of the charge of the projectile, and on theother hand, inan opposite direc-V tion during the trajectory under the action of the power spring for rotating a revoluble member controlling the lunlocking of the striker member and for transinitting.V the d'rfving powerto the regulating device of the clockwork.

The annexed drawings illustrate by way of example two constructional forms ofthe invention adapted to b-e applied to a shrapnel with double effect.

F ig. 1 is a lateral elevation of the firstconstructional form partly in section on the line 1 1 of Figr.

Fig. 2 is an axial section of thek second constructional form adapted to lit the ogival counterpirt of ashell showing in elevation the detonator arrangement and the housing enclosing the clock movement which is the same in both constructions, which latter do not differ except in certain detailsof the body of the fuse and of the detonator arrangement.

Fig. 3 is an axial section of the housing showing, the different parts of the clockwork movement in elevational view.

Fig. t is an axial section of the clockwork movement and of its casing taken on the line 4 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 5 is a plan view on the lower part of the first form of construction of the body of the fuse, the clockwork movement and the housing' being omitted. I

F igs'.v 6 9 are detail views showing separately in axial section, the first form of the detonator arrangement respectively during the manipulation of the shell7 at the moment of firing, at the moment of explosion when the shell explodes. in the air and on the im-.

pact when its function is brought about by percussion.

Fig.`10 is a plan View of the clockwork Y movement taken above the forward or top plate thereof.

Figs. 11 to 13 are transverse sections taken respectively below each of the three plates.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section taken on the line lil- 14k of Fig. 4L.

Figs. 15 and 16 aie'similar transverse sections taken on the line 15-15 of F ig. l showing the driving spring respectively in its wound and unwound position.

Figs. 17 to19 are transverse sections taken respectively on the lines 17-17, 1818 and 19-19 of Fig. 4. i j Fig. 20 is a section analogous to Fig. 19 showing the striker abandoned to the action of the percussion spring. 'Figs'. 21 and A29. are detail views showing separately a safety member in operative and inoperative position, respectively, and

Figs. 23 and 24C are likewise detail views showing separately the housing in elevation-' al interior -viewvof one of its halves, and anaxial section taken perpendicularly to the plan of the junction vof its two halves.

In referring now to the first form (Figs. 1 and 3 to 24), it willV be seen from Fig. 1-that the tubular body ofthe fuse is made in two parts, 1 and 2, screwed one tothe other. The part 1 shows on its periphery the groovecand screw-threads usually pro# vided lfor enablingthe fuse to` be secured to the ogival relay piece or counterpart ofthe shrapnel. V

4Fitted in the axis of the ogival nose 2 so as to be capable of rotating freely on itself, is a key 3 which is prevented from being axially displaced by a radial screw l adapted to co-operate with circular groove in the periphery of the key. rlChis key carries at its other extremity or engaging end a pinion 5 cut directly from its stem, and the function of which will be described later on. The detonator arrangement of the fuse is lodged in a cylindrical cavity 6 provided axially in the lower portion 1. It comprises (Figs. land 6 to lthe usual, capsule or cartridge 7 containing fulminate Yand screwed intothe lower extremity of the portionlof the body of the fuse; an ignition charge carrier 8 subjected to the action of a spring 9 tending to holditto the bottom of the cavity 6 and provided 'with a deep circular grcoveflO; asafety member 11 constituted by a split ring which normally has av diameter valittle larger than thev groove but which possesses suflicient elasticity to enable it to enter this groove under the action of yinertia on the departure of the projectile; capv 12 screwed axially into the central nipple of the socket 8 and a percussionl pin 13 lodged `in a tubular guide 14.. This pin is subjected to the action of a percussion spring 15 bearing on the one hand on the bottom of the casing containing the clock move ment and on the other against a collar fori'ned near the head of the percussion pin and terminating in the lpercrssion or striking pointk proper 16. This percussion pin is provided, moveover, near its upper end with a lateral notch 17 (Figs. t, 8, 19Vand 20), the object of whichy willlat-er on be fully eX- plained. j

Arranged inthe axis of the portion 1 of the body of thefuse co-axially with the cavity 6 containing the detonator, is a cavity 18 (Figs. 1 and 5) likewise cylindrical, but of much larger diameter than the cavity 6 and in which is mounted a housing 2O (Fig. 1) containing the clockwork'nlove Vment. This cavity 18 has `,longitudinal grooves 19 in diametrical opposition which cooperate with longitudinal projections or ribs 21 on the periphery of the casing. The casing is built up of twosemi-cylindrical sections rigidly connected between them on the one hand by means of slotand tenon joints, rendering themA integral with three plates 22, 23 and 21, arranged in super-posi" tion F igs. 3 and el, between and above-which are arranged different parts of the clock@ work movement, and on the other hand by means of Vdiametrically opposite screws 3.4

(Figs. 2 and screwed into plates 31 whichclose two angular notches provided 'in the housing and in the parts which will later on be described. The plates 22, 23 and 24have a diameter slightly greater than the interior of the housing 2O and engage in correspending circular grooves 25 in the walls of the latter. These-plates are each like- Wise provided with two tenons diametrically opposite and engaging with grooves 26 (Fig. 23) provided in the projections 21 of the housing 20. rlhe spring of the clock-work mover ent is accommodated in a tenoned casing 27 which is adjusted in the interior of the housing between the lower plate '24' and a strengthening steel plate 28 rest-ing von a washer 29 which is likewise provided with tenons and constitutes the bottom of the housii jas shown in Figs. 3 and d. The tenons of the casing 27 and of the plate 28 and washer 29 are diametrically opposite and are superposed in such a manner as to y27 and the plate 28, and washer 29 are assembled between them by means of two steel pins 36 (Figs. 17 to 20).

The motor spring 37 for the clockwork (Figs. e, 15 and y16) is lodged in a cylindrivcal cavity 38 within the casing 27. Its outer end is fixed to a strap 39 pivoted toits casing 27 in a manner'to take cover inside a notch l0 in the wall 38 whenA the spring is expanded as shown in Fig. 16. lts inner end is fixed to a collar l1 mounted on a square part 0f a central shaft l2A disposed axially in the housing. This shaft serves, on the one hand, for winding the spring 37 with the aid of a winding mechanism which will hereinafter be described, and on thel other` hand kfor transmitting the driving power on the one hand with the aid of a pinion 46 to the parts. of the clockwork mechanism 'controlling the function of the striking pin of the fuse,and, on the other llO hand, with the aid 'of a ratchet 79 to the clockwork regulating device ot which the ditte-rent gear wheels are distributed kbetween the. plates 22, 23 and 24. The shaft 42V by'means orn its lower extremity is supthe latter to bear the effort ojt tlexure due to the inertia to which it is subjected at the moment of Vthe departure otthe projectile to whichthe fuse is applied. The shaft Llf2 carries at its upper end a pinion elthe function oi which will be described later on, and at its other extremity a pinion 46 which meshes with a toothed wheel' i7 keyed on to oneend of a regulator stub sha'tt 48 journalled on the one'hand in the bottom ot the casing 27,Y and on the other hand in the bottom washer 29.

This shaft S which serve: mission of the mot-ive torce to the retaining device of the strilter, and for insulating this device betere firing, carries at its other end a. pinion 49 which is in constant mesh with the inner teeth ot' a crown piece 50 which rotates'treely in an annular groove 5l provided in the bottom washer 29.

lin the wall otl the cavity 51 for the crown piece 50 are arranged at i200, one to the other, three notches'52 in which operate three balls 53 (FigjlS), ln openings ot' the steel plate 28 are lodged three other balls 54 (Fig. el) on which rolls the upper face ot the crown piece 50, while the periphery otithis crown rotates on the balls ln the flange ot' the crown piece which projects parallel to the axis ot the tuse is a notch 55 (Figs. il, 19V and 20) in which engages the nose ot a retaining lever 5G at the moment the striker is liberated. rlChis lever 56 isY pivoted about a screw 57 which is screwed-into the bottom washer 29, and car-v ries a. vertical pin 5S against the tree end ot which operates a spring 59 lodged in the bottom of the casing 217 (Fig. ll). This spring 59 tends normally to maintain the lever 56 in Contact with a boss G1 which is integrally feathered to a socket which is automatically7 retracted under the action ot momentum et inertia en the departure ot' the projectile, and tends to cause the nose of the lever 53 to penetrate in Vthe notch 55l when 'the boss 61 is retracted and the notch 55 is in register with the said nose. The' boss. 6l and sleeve operate in a guide 62 which 1's secured beneath the vbottom washer 29m a cylindrical cavity 62 provided in the bottom of the cavity 18 (rig. 5).

lor the trans-'- In order to prevent the hey 3 from being inadvertently rotated in counter-clockwise direction in rewinding, thecrown piece 50 is provided with an internal radial lug` GO (Fig. 19) which comes to bear against a flattened portion of the boss 61 as long as the latter isl in its operative position and when the crown piece 50 has not been operated to eti'ectthe regulation of the fuse. As long as the boss 6,1 is in its operative position thatv is to say, during the entire transport, the manipulation and charge oli the shell, `this lug' 60 bears against the flat# tened port-ion oi" the boss (31 and th ireby prevents the crown piece 50 trom being rotated incloclewise direction and consequent-- ly any accidental liberation ot the striker pin 18. On the other hand, however, the boss G1 does not prevent the crown piece 50 from being; displaced in the counter clockwise direction for an angle less than 360o when it is desired to effect the regulation ot the fuse. This regulation is etllected with the aid ot the key 3 which is turned in clockwise direction with the aid ot a timing apparatus at the required angle to obtain the range of the tiring required. ln turning the l-zey, of which the lower end is guided by an axial pin 63 secured on the upper plate 22, rotation is imparted Dy.

means ot the pinion 5 to a sliding pinion G4 freely fitted on a square portion 65 on a. rewindingshaft- 66 rotatable inthe three plates 22, and 24. This shaft is prevented trom performinp' axial movements in one. direction by a pin 66 which bears on the under tace ot the top plate 22 and' inthe other direction by a disc (described later on) by which its lower extremity is lightly supported. At its upper end the shaft 66 is prolonged by a reduced thread portion 67 screwed on which is a nut 68 having a collar which serves as supporting' surface for a spring 69 by unelutching the sliding piniontlll from the pinion 5 when this pinion is Jtreed by the fork 70 of a lever 71 10) `pivotally mounted on a screw 72 screwed into the top plate 22.

In addition to this fork 7 O (Fig. 10) the lever 71 carries a nipple 73 which plays in a circular slot 74 provided in the top plate 22 andthe function ot which will be described later on. The lever 71 is maintained in its operative position as shown in Fini. 10 lup to the moment of the departure oit the projectile by a projection 7 5 acting through the inertia in a manner analogous to that of the boss 61 yof the retaining device of the striker. This projection. shown separately in 21 and 22, is like the boss 61 integrally spring feathered to a sleevewhich plays in an opening` of the plate 23, and in a cylindrical guide under the action of inertia at the moment'of the departi'lre of the projectile.- Vhen .the lever 71 is freed by lll this part which then assumes its retracted position as shown in Fig. 22, it pivots about the screw 72 under the action of the centrifugal force and thus abandons the sliding pinion G4 to the action of the spring 69.

`When the key 3 is actuated as indicated above the sliding pinion 64 which is maintained in mesh with the pinion 5 of the key until the momentof the departure of the projectile by the lever 71 is actuatedin the counterclockwise direction and in its rotation actuates the shaft 66. As the latter carries keyed on its lower extremity a pinion 78 which is in constant mesh with the rewinding pinion 45 of the central shaft 42, t ns latter is thus rotated in clockwise direction, thereby .on the one hand rewinding the power spring 37 and, on the other hand, causing thel crown pieceO of the striker retaining device to be rotated in countenclockwise direction through the intermediary of the gear train 46, 47 and 49 with the result that the regulation of the fuse is realized siinul-- taneously with the winding` of the power spring.

l/Vhen, after having been liberated at the moment of the departure of the projectile by a ratchet device which will hereafter be described, the driving shaft 42 commences to rotate'in counterclockwise direction under the action of the force stored up in the power spring, all of the rotating members of the winding mechanism and of the regulating` device of the fuse describe in an inverse sense the same course which they have accomplished during the action of rewinding with the exception, however, of the key, of which the pinion 5 is then uncoupled from the sliding pinion 64 which is then found to be in a retracted position, as represented in Fig. 4 in dotted lines.

The crown 50 thus returns to itsinitial position which it occupied before the rewinding of the fuse and which is its position at the outset, but when at this moment the` Yto say, for effecting the instantaneous release of the said striker.

In order that the force stored inthe power vspring 37 should not be released after the winding has been effected, before the reouired moment, that is to say, before the `departure of the projectile, a ratchet de- (Fig. 4).

in which are ratchet teeth 8O enabling'this disc to act as a ratchet wheel. Y This ratchet 7 9 rests on the top cover of the casing 27 and carries a'crown wheel 31. Cut in this crown wheel is a ratchet rim S2 adapted to engage with the teeth SO on the ratchet wheel. This crown'wheel 81 performs the function of a pawl and is normally maintained in position on the ratchet 79 so that the teeth 8O and 82 are held in engagement by means of a ring 84 screwed to the periphery of the ratchet with the aid of screws This ring has its upper side provided with claws forming springs 85, the. free extremities of which bear on the top of the crown pawl '81. A circular groove 87 cut in the housing 20 opposite the ratchet wheel 79 for the free passage of the screws 86.

During winding and simultaneous regulation of the fuse, the ratchet wheel 79 rotates with the shaft 42 in clockwise direction without causing the rotation of the pawl member 31 due to the ratchet arrangement of the teeth 8O and 82 and because the pawl .member 81 can then axially displace itself in opposition to the action of the spring to allow the teeth 82 to pass. During this time the pawl member 31 is held stationary in the revoluble sense by means which will be described later on. llhen, however, at the moment of the departure of the projectile, the pawl member 81 is liberated by said means, the driving shaft is free to commence its rotation in counterclockwise direction under the action of the power spring 37 because nothing now prevents theratchet wheel 79 from carrying the pawl member 81 with it. This latter, in rotating, drives in its turn with the aid of the teeth 83 on its inner periphery, a pinion 88 which is mounted by means of .a screw 90 to the lower end of a short shaft 39 adapted to transmit the motive power to the regulating mechanism of the clockwork. AThis shaft 89 rotates in a circular opening 91 provided in the plate 24 and carries on its parts above this plate a toothed wheel 92 adapted to actuate a multiplying gear train 93 (Fim 12) situated between the plates 23 and 24. Thev last pinion 94 of this gear train is keyed on a shaft4 95 of an escapement-wheel 96 which cooperates with a swivelling member 97 mounted on the shaft 98 of the regulator. This shaft 93 is placed. axially in the fuse between the key 3 and the driving shaft 42. It rotates on the one hand in a bearing plug 99 screwed into the centre of the top plate V22 and serving also for the mounting of the nipple .63 used for centering the key on the plate 22,- and on `the other hand ina bushing (not shown) secured to the centre of -is mounted in a plug 102 secured on 'the lower plate 24. In setting the point of this screw to a greater or lsmaller depth 1n the nctchlOO, :the amplitude of the oscillations of the anchor may be` precisely controlled,

regard to a lixedindex 107 in a manner` pro- ,120@ AOng.; n). 20

and'consequently also those of the balance governor, which Vis likewise keyed on vthe shaft 98. This governor which is located between the plates 22 and 23 is constituted Yby a hub 103 carrying three wings 10Ldisposed at Each of these wings carries at its free extremity a weight 105. This governor 103, 104 remainsl stationary to the momentyof the departure of the projectile, due to the fact that one of the wings 104 is prevented from rotating in clockwise direc tion by the nipple 73 carried by the centrifuga-l. lever 71.

' Tshe immobilization of the governor 103,

` 104, to the moment of the departure of the projectile determines the immobilization in the angular sense of the pawl member 81 because this member is maintained in a constant relation of mesh with the anchor of `the escapement by the Vmultiplicator gear train 93. Y y

. Fig. 1 shows a dial 106 having indications 1 in multiple of twos from 2-16 and servesV as indicator ofthe lfiring time to which the fuse has been set. A*The device is rendered inte gral with thel key 3 Vby. any appropriate means, not` shown, so as to be displaced in portionate with the rotation of the key dur- Aingfwhich the winding and regulation of the fuse is effected.

The function of this constructional form .of the .fuse is as follows: Asuming-,thatthe ower s rine can be given eieht windinl b e t: b

[turns land-that the ratchets 80 and 82 have 20,0 teeth; assuming, moreover, that this Y. fuse vis of a manufacturev regulated for a ,minimum ignition of half a second, with on the other hand one winding `turn of'its powergspring` wound beforehand in reserve,

j independently of the eight possible turns l and with-the plugs 61 and 7 5in such position that no accidental function ofthe clock- ].iiforkneed be feared during' the manipulaition:ofthef shell towhich the fuse is applied. .1t is also then necessary that the split ring llof the detonator is in its operative4 positron, Figi, in order to ensure that. during Y' its manipulation there should be nofaccidental function of the double acting detonating key 3,

with the point 16 of the striker as is the case on the impact of thev shell when its function is brought about by percussion (Fig. 9). .These conditions prevailing, the number of possible positions of setting of the fuse with a proportionate corresponding winding will be determined by the product yof the number of teeth on the ratchet 79 (say 200) by the number of winding turns, that is to say, the number of revolutions described by the driving shaft during the regulation and simultaneous winding of the fuse (say eight revolutions) resulting thus is 200; 8=1,600.

1f' it is assumed that the chosen unit of maximum setting.' and its corresponding winding will then give a duration of the function oftheclockwork movement between the instant of the, departure of the shell and the instant of the liberation of the striker equal to sixteen hundred hundredths of a second, that is to say,` 16 seconds. The fuse'can thus be set to the hundredths of a second for durations of ignition between one half and sixteen and a half seconds. This setting' is effected by turning the key 3 with the aid of an appropriate timing device in clockwise direction until the indicator of this apparatus gives the respective indications in seconds and hundredths of seconds required. The number of seconds is then equally indicated bythe dial 106, Fig. 1.

Thus, for example, if it is desired to obtain an ignition interval of 10.59 seconds; the which is displaced with the saine speed as the Vpower shaft 42, is first rotated five complete revolutions on itself, so as to bring the ligure on thedial opposite the index 1107, and then through `an angle of 9/100ths of a revolution `(59-50: 9). In so doing` the'powershaft l2 will likewise be rotated through five revolutions and 9/100ths of a revolution in the clockwise direction with theaid of the gear train 5, 64, 7 S and 45. lDuring this rotation the power shaft will carry with it the ratchet 79, which .isintegral therewith, Yand there will be 200 5-l9-=1009 successive ratchet engagements of thepawl member 81, because this latter during this'time remains stationary in the revoluble sense in the position which it occupied at the outset byl the centrifugal lockinglever 71 of the governor 103 and 1051 with the aid of the stop 73.

A.Through the reducing gear train 46, 47, 49, this rotation of the power shaft will be transmitted on the other 'hand simultaneously tothe crown member 50, whichtherefore will rotate in counter clockwise direction through an angle which in regard to the length'of Vits possiblecourse (the limits of which aredetermined by the stop co- .operating with the` twofiattened vopposite Lfaces on the nipple 61), will be in the prowhich' is 16 secOIlClS- portion of 10.59 to 16, because this crown member' will describe a little less than a complete revolution on itself during the maXimum duration "of the clockwork movement lt will thus be seen that vin turning the key `8 in a clockwise direction through the required angle, the winding and setting of the fuse will be effected simultaneously.

The shell is then ready for being fired. At the'l moment of the departure of the projectileV the plugs 61 and 75 are retracted under the action of inertia ask has already been described, the stop 75 abandoningthe lever 71 to the action of the centrifugal force, while the plug 61 liberates the locking lever 56 which, however, remains in the operative position by its nose, which bears against the inner surface of thecylindrical flange on the crown member 50.

The lever 71 in being displaced under the .action lof the centrifugal force moves the pin 73 to the outerfextremity of the slot 74, that is to say, to a position where this pin admits of the free oscillation of the governor 103 and 104;.. On the other hand by its displacement the lever71 liberates by its fork 70 the sliding pinion 642 which under the action of the uncoupling springs 69 assumes the position indicated in broken lines in Fig 1. The key 3 is thus uncoupled from the winding mechanism of the fuse and consequently is not partaking of the movement of this mechanism during the working of the clockwork.

No further obstacle is then offered to the rotation of the power shaft in counter- VVclockwise"direction under the action of the power spring 37. As the centrifugal force in acting on the coils of this spring tends to increase its force,v lan acceleration of the speed of the flow of the motive force, would be created in the absence of the regular 4mechanisnfi, the function of which latter is precisely to retard this flow in a manner to compensate this acceleration and to .suppress the other irregularities of the action of the spring in the clockwork of an ordinary kind.

rlhe multipilcator gear train 93 connecting the pawl member 81 mechanically .to the escapement wheel 96, gives a multiplication of 115, that is to say, for one revolution of the pawl member 81, the escapement wheel 96 describes forty-five revolutions. During this rotation of the power shaft under the action of the spring 37in counterclockwise direction and the function of the regulating device, all the other rotatable parts of the fuse, with the exception of the fkey 3 and of the pinion 5 cut in ,thisl key,

V'will turn in the inverse sense through an tangle' which the have traversed'durind the h C Winding 'and simultaneous setting of the fuse, Aplus a certain angle determined by the travel to be yet traversed by thecrown memof the lever 56, the latter is thrown vby'V the action of the spring V59 and thecentrifugal force in ycounter-clockwise Vdirection about its pivot 97, thus incidentally abancloning the striker to the action on the percussion spring 15. The vfunction of the percussion mechanism is as follows: On the def parture of the projectile, the split safety ring 11 is by the inertia forced intothe interior of the cavity 10 in the socket .Swhich carries the percussion cap (Fig. 7). Dur- -ing the whole flight or travel of the shell 6, this percussion cap remains remote from the point 16 of the striker due to itsown inertia. In the normal function the shell, which is then operating as an ordinary fuse,

b ursts at the moment of the liberation of 'thestriker 13, of which the point 16' pierces the cap 12 as indicated in Fig. 8. However, if for one cause or another the shell encounters an obstacle before the percussion action is released by the lever 56, the socket 8 is thrown forward upon the point 16Y of the striker at the moment of this impact under the action'of the live force stored up in it as indicated inFig. 9. The shell then acts as a percussion device. l f

rihe regulation of -the regulator mecha nism of the clockwork with the aid of the vscrew '101 should be effected at the end of the manufacture/of the fuse for each piece` separately. i

The second constructional form (Fig. 2)

does not differ from thelirst, except by the l I fact that the portion 2 of the body of the fuse is screwed externally on to a reduced screwpthreaded portion 1a of the portion 1, and by the fact that Ythe fulminate container Y, instead of being screwed directly into the lower extremity of the portion 1 of the fuse, is forcibly engaged ina socket 108 containing a fulminate cartridge andv itself beingl screwed into the lower end of" the portion 1.

In this form the connector ring 11G is also i shown by means ofwhich the fuse is secured in the eye piece of the shell.

Various modifications could 'be devisedof 'one or the other of the forms of the fuse represented without departing from thef spirit of the invention.

For example', Vother safety means functioning either l'byinertia or by centrifugal (lll.

force could be added to the plugs (i1 and 75 for the purpose of preventing premature function ofthe fuse.

The regular mechanism instead of comprising an anchored escapement device such as shown and a governor actuated solely by the motive force could be constituted by an escapement device with a dead beatescapenient and a regulator withfa spiral cylindrical spring. Further the winding and the simultaneous regulation of the fuse with the aid of the key 3 could be effected directly by hand. In this case, the point of the fuse should be constituted by Yan ogival cap integral with the key 3 which can be displaced angularly on the part 2 of the body of the fuse for actuating the key In this case l this cap could have its lower edge provided with a graduation eo-o eratinowith a fixed index marked on the part 1 of the body of the fuse for indicating the precise angle to V,be described by the cap in its manipulation.

The percussion spring l5 instead of being mounted around the guide tube 1st of the striker could be lodged in an arial opening formed inthe power shaft l2 and in a circular correspondingcentral opening provided in the. steel washer 28. In this case, instead of acting on a collar near the point l5 of the striker, it would act against the upper face of the latter.

Instead of utilizing the lever 5G directly for retaining the striker in cocked position by engaging in the notch 17 thereof across a corresponding notch in the guide 14, use

Vcould be made of three balls lodged inthree circular openings` arranged at 1200` in the guide 14e and cio-operating with a circular l groove in the striker 19' retaining the latter `Vin the cocked position when these balls are immobilized in the guide 14 with the aid of `a gland arranged toslide on this guide and subjected to the action of a spring (which,

Vfor example, could beithe percussion spring 15) but held against the action of this spring by the lever 56 as long as the nose of this lever has been unable tol penetrate into the notch 55. Finally the grooves 2G, provided in the housing, could be machined only to the depths of the circular groove 25 in which case the corresponding vprojections of the plates would obviously be smaller,y or these three grooves couldA be merged into a single one milled lon Qitudinallv in each half of the housing at the "external extremity Vofthe latter up to the height of thev lowest plate ,A 24 on a proportion of only the thickness of the housing.V The two grooves 3() should Vlikewise only be milled on a portion ofthe thickness ofthe housing and for the sake of greater convenience in manufacture could Vbe prolonged to the lower edge of the housing.

I claim: Y, Y 1. In a clockwork'operated fuse forar- 'multaneoud v tillery projectiles, a striker member, a revoluble member adjustable in one direction to an angular position prior to firing for controlling 'the striker member, a clockwork, Va regulating device therefor, a power spring. and a barrel shaft mounted in the axis of the fuse and adapted to turn several revolutions in one direction prior to firing for simultaneously winding the power spring and moving the said ievoluble member to position to regulate the time interval determining the io'nition of the charge of the project-ile and also adapted to be turned by the Aspriiig in the opposite direction during the flight of the projectile for then moving the revoluble member and alsol transmitting power to, the said regulating device of the clockwork,

2. In a clockwork operated fuse for artillery projectiles, a striker member, a crown wheel having internal teeth and revolubly adjustable in one direction to an angular position prior to tiring for controlling the striker member, a clockwork, a regulating device therefor, a power spring, and a barrel shaft mounted in the axis of the fuse and adapted to be turned several revolutions in one direction prior to'liring for siturning thesaid crown wheel to position to regulate the time interval determining the ignition of the charge of the projectile and also adapted to be turned by the spring in Athe opposite direction during the flight of vthe projectile for turning the said crown wheel andtransn'iitting driving power to the said'regulating device of the clockwork.

3. In a clockworkoperated fuse for artillery projectiles, a striker member, a crown wheel having internal teeth and Aadjustable in one direction to an angular position'before firing for controlling the striker niem- `ber` a clockwork escapement device, a power spring, a barrel shaft mounted in the axis ofthe fuse and adapted to be turned several revolutions in one direction prior to firing, a double reduction gear connecting the barrel shaft with the said crown wheel, and a multiplication gear connect-ing the said barrel through the double' reduction gear tocontrol th'e striker member and toactuatev the escapement device through the said multiplication gear.

4;. In a clockwork operated fuse for artillery projectiles, a striker member a crown y wheel having internal teeth and being adjustable in one direction to an angular posiwinding the power spring and tion prior to firing' for controlling the striker member, a yclock-work escapement device, a power spring, a barrel shaft mounted in the anis of the fuse and adapted to be 4turned several revolutions in one direction prior 'to firing, a revolubly mounted key, means for connecting the key to the barrel shaft, a double reduction gearfconnecting the barrel shaft with the crown Wheel, and a multiplication ygear connecting the barrel vshaft with the escapement device whereby the said key maybe turned to turn the barrel shaft Va number of revolutions before iiring to simultaneously wind the power spring and tnrn Vthe crown wheel to a predetermined position and whereby during the flight of the projectile the barrel shaft is turned in the opposite direction by the vpower spring to turn the crown wheel through the double reduction gear to operate the striker member and simultaneously 1 to vactna'i'e the escapement device through the Said multiplication gear. Y

5.1n a clockwork operated fuse for artillery projectiles, a striker member, a crown wheel having` internal teeth and adapted'to be adjustable in one `directionto an angulaiposition prior to firing for controlling the striker member, a clockwork escapement device, a power spring, a barrel shaft mounted in the aXis of the fus-e, a. double reduction 'gear ,connecting the barrel shaft and the crown wheel, a revoluble key, meansfor connecting the key to the barrel shaft whereby when the key is turned the barrel shaft is turned thereby a predetermined number of revolutions ybefore firing to simultaneously wind the spring and to set the said crown wheel through the said double* reduction gear, a multiplicationQgear, and a device connecting ,the said multiplication gear to the said barrel shaft, which device is inj erative when the barrel shaft is turned by Vthe key and operative when during the flight lof the projectile the barrel shaft is turned in the opposite direction by the 4power spring to thereby actuate the escapeinent device vthrough the ni'ultiplication gear and also through the said double re-V duction gear and crown wheel tooperate the i striker member.

' ;6. In aclockwork operated fuse for artillery projectiles, a striker member, a-rev- "oluble member. for controlling the striker L member a barrel shaft a aower serine a key for Yturning the vbarrel shaft in'one ,di rection l ior to firingrfor simultaneously winding tie power spring and Vsetting the revoluble member for controlling the striker member, a clockwork escapement device, a spindle therefor, a connection between the saidk spindle Aand barrel shaft, an ignitioncharge carrier', and a cartridge, the said key, ,spindle ,for the escapement device, the barrel shaft, the striker member, the ignition means 'operative upon Vfiring the projef a spring charge carrier and the cartridge being arranged aXially in the order named one behind the other from the nose of the fuse.

`7. ln a projectile of the type described, a clock work apparatus, a fuse device, a striker for operating the fuse device, a motor comprising a spring' and power shaft, a

winding stein, a connection between the said winding stein and power shaft, a stoplever for normally engaging the striker, devices for actuating the stop lever., a connection between the poiver shaft and the devices for actuating the stop lever, whereby the tnrning the stein turns the power shaft in one direction to apply a tension theret to wind the clock workapparatus, and also to set the device for actuati e' the stop lever, means for normally maintaining the stop gele-,ver in an inoperative position, and means operative rpon firing the projectile for the stop lever, devices permitting the stopY leverto become disengaged from the striker, a spring motor comprising a power shaft, and a spring for driving the saine, means for tnrning` Athe power shaft in one direction to wind the clock work apparatus and to set the devices for perinittinpjihe stop lever to` bedisengaged fron'i the striker, means for normally maintaining the clock work paratus in an inoperative condition` 9 an d the 1.1. Lil? for releasing the last Yaforesaid means permitting the clock work apparatus .and devices for releasing the :top lever fr n striker to be sin'iiiltaneously voperated by tho said motor. f Y

9. ln a projectile of the type described, a clock work apparatus, fuse device., a striker foroperating the frise derice.. stop lever for normally maintaini tine 'l' in an inoperative position, a dc mally iaintainingthe stop lever in engage-V ment ywith the striker and made operative by the liring of the projectile for releasing` the stop leverydevicespermitting thestop l ver to become disengaged from the striker, motorr comprising` a power shaft, and a spring for drivingthe same, a stem, a counter shaft, connections between the said stem and counter shaft and between the said counter shaft. and power shaft, connections also between the power shaft and the devices for permitting the stop lever to be disengaged from the striker, whereby when the stem is turned in one direction a tension is applied to the spring of the motor and the said devices for permitting the stop lever to be disengaged from the striker are set, means whereby in turning t-he stem in said direction the clock work apparatus is not actuated, and means operative upon the firing of the projectile for disconnectingr the said stem and counter shaft, whereby the motor is released to simultaneously actuate the clock work apparatus and the devices for permitting the stop lever to be disengaged from the striker.

10. In a projectile of the type described, a clock work apparatus, a fuse device, a striker for operating the fuse device, a stop lever for normally maintaining the striker in an inoperative position, a device for normally maintainingr the stop lever in engagement with the striker and made operative by the firing of the projectile for releasing the stop lever, devices permitting the stop lever to become disengaged from the striker, a spring motor comprising a power shaft, and

a spring for driving the same, a stem, a counter shaft, connections between the said stem and counter shaft and between the said counter shaft and power shaft, connections also between the power shaft and the devices for permitting the stop lever to be disengaged from the striker, whereby when the stem is turned in one direction a tension is applied to the spring of the motor and the said devices for permitting the stop lever to be disengaged from the striker are set, means whereby in turning the stem in said direction the clock work apparatus is not actuated, means operative upon the firing of the projectile for disconnecting the said stem and counter shaft, whereby the motor is released to simultaneously actuate the clock work apparatus and the devices for permitting the stop lever to be disengaged from the striker, and means indicating the period during which the clock work apparatus operates before the stop lever is released from the striker.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

ANDR VARUD. 

